A commercially available IgA- and IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin preparation administered immediately after cardiac surgery significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative infections in preoperatively anergic patients.

A biomechanical concept of interface maturation around cement-free implanted alumina-ceramic hip endoprostheses in sheep is explained. Provided there is rigid primary stability of the implant within the bone bed, hard tissue formation along the support areas of the implant is mainly dependent on implant shape and main local stress direction. Three subsequent phases of interface maturation can be distinguished, finally resulting in firm fixation of the implant by mechanical interlocking of supporting bone and ceramic. A new composite alumina-metal hip endoprosthesis for partial cement-free implantation (cup) is presented. The technique, postoperative care, and encouraging early results in 5 patients are demonstrated. A new ceramic femoral component for cement free implantation is proposed.

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